Vapor-rectifier system.



C. M. GREEN.

VAPOR RECTIFIER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1005.

Patented July 4, 1911.

/VE/ /TO/'? Char/es M Cree ym UNITED srarius PATERT- oFFIoE.

CHARLES M.'GBEEN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO GENERAL ELECTBrIG4 COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

yawn-RECTIFIER SYSTEM. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, CHARLES M. GREEN, :1

" citizen of the United States, residing. at

' tems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

' My present invention relates to systems of electrical distribution inwhich vapor rectifiers are utilized to convert alternating current intounidirectional current for use in translating devices.

In carrying out my invention I. use an alternating current source forsupplying energy to one or more rectifiers and l utilize the resultingrectified current for operating one or more series circuits containingtranslating devices. If desired, I may utilize uni-v directional currentfrom one of the rectifi'ers to operate regulating means forautomatic'ally controlling the voltage of the alternating currentsource.

The details of my invention will be better understood by reference tothe following description talren in connection with the dram ing forminga part of this specification.

-Figure- 1 shows a single-phase alternator connected to a mercuryrectifierand having a central tap connected to a consumption circuitsupplied by current from the rectifier; and Fig. 2 shows a plurality ofrectifiers connected to separate series circuits and also shows meansfor utilizing the unidirectional current from one of these rectifier-sto energize the field of the alternator.

The alternator 1 may be similar in design .to any of the standard formsof alternators such asfor instance, the revolving arma-' ture, therevolving field or the inductor type, though for simplicity ofillustration I have shown one of the revolving armature type. i hearmature Winding 2 is provided with a central tap 3 connected to a slipring 4 to serve as a return path for the undirect-ional current from theseries consumption circuit. The terminals of the alternator Winding-2are connected to the 'sliprings 5 and 6, and these areconnected throughbrushes to the carbon anodes fund 8 ofa mercury rectifier 9 of awell-known type. This rectifier care ries at its lower end a mercurycathode 10 and an auxiliary anode 11. The latter may be supplied bycurrent from a battery 12 through a switch 13.- Thisauxiliary anodeSpecification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 11, 1905.Serial No. 273,807.

11 is utilized to start the flow of current through the rectifier, forit has been'found that if the mercury electrodes 10 and 11 are broughtmomentarily in contact by shaking the tube, thereby establishing a flowof current from the battery 12, a subsequent separation of theseelectrodes will start an incipient arc in the 'lower'end'of the tube andthis will kindle the main 'arcsbetwe'en the mercury cathode 10 and theanodes 7 and 8." If desired, the switch13 may be left closed to maintaina continuous direct current arc in the lower end of the rectifier but iit has been found that such an arc. is not necessary to maintain therectifier in a 'conduct-ive condition provided the alternator windinghas aconsiderablereactancehetween' the two halves, and provided alsothat the consumption circuit contains sufiicient reactance to smooth.out irregularities in the rectified'75 current. The presence ofreactance in the armature winding serves to displace the phase relationof current and-pressure so that the are from one anode is maintained fora short interval of time, during which so the pressure at the ot-heranodeis building up to a value suflicient to establish another" arc inthe tube. To insure sufficient reactance in the consumption circuit Imay inserta reactive coil 14 in series therewith. 35

The rectified current passes from the cathode 10 through the fieldwinding 15 of the alternator, and then throu h a series solenoid 16 to aload 17 which fhave illustrated as consisting of a plurality ofconstantcur- 9.0

rent arc lights, though it should be understood that my system isequally applicable to motors or other translating devices requiringsubstantially constant current. I may operate the alternator 1 on" thedrooping part of the characteristic, but to insure a constantcurrentin-the consumption circuit I may shunt a portionof the field15'with' a variable resistance 17', consisting of 0; p111- rality ofcarbon plates, the up er onecf I which is in contact withthe movale'arm18. The outer end of this arm carriesa. wei ht 19 of magnetic materialcounter-balanoedf by a coil spring 20. The weight 19 ser'vesas an.

armature for the'series solenoidlfi so that .105

iatexited ury 4, 191 1 when the current in the solenoid reaches apredetermined value the-downward pull onthe armature 19 will compressthe" carbon plates 17', thusdecreasin the-resistancelof the path andshunting o a porti Qit e 116 rectified current from the series field,ther.e-. decreasin the voltage at the alternator terminals. though Ihave described this "particular form offield regulator it is to beunderstood that any approved ty iised toregulate the armature vo tagesulficiently to produce constant, current in'the consumption circuitirrespective of changes in the resistance of the circuit; If desired,- aswitch 2lfmay be connected across the con sumption circuit'so thatthe'alternajtor may' be started onalow resistancecircuitjIt-' will bereadily understood that in case a very liighvoltage is necessary on therecti- ..fier anodes, a,step-up transformer may be "interposedbetweenthe-alternator and the rectifier, and the consumption circuit mayIretui'irto 'a.centra-l tap of the transformer secondary," as"a-Qneutral point.- In Fig-.Zfthe alternator 22 supplies current to aplurality of series transformers 23,

24'and 25; "By this arrangement of apparatus'itis possiblejto operateany number of series devices from analternator of moderatecurrentfcapacity and variable )potenti'a'lig The transformers 24 and.are ,-.fcoi inec ted respectively to mercury rectifiers I 26 and 27'whicliserve to rectify the alternatingycurrent,- and which deliverunidirec- 9 '-t ional current to their respective series loads 28-"and29,,g Reactance coils 30 and 31 areconnected in sei-ies with eachof these con-'- sumptio'mcircuit's to smooth out irregularities theunidirectional current, and to help maintainthe rectifiers conductiveindeendent of.cur ren t flow from the storage I .atterics 32 and 33.Automatic cut-outs 34 and. 35 0f any approved des'gn are connecte'dacross the rectifier ano es so that in Q case of an open circuit in oneof the consumption circuits,'the. abnormal potential "developed acrossthe corresponding transforniers econdar will ca use current to jump lacioss the spam gap of the cut-out and 4 tliereby short'circu1tthesecondary and pref the developmentof an abnormal reactmm in thetransformer primary, which if would choke down the current of.

h iilternatoi; These autoniaticcut-outs-Bi 4 v. and" 35", are providedwith electro-magnetic "means suchas' a matures36an d 37, so thatYafterLcur' reiit'hf Yon'ce' jumped the air gap tlije' s'econdarie's'will be short -circuited by a metallic} connection. The ,third rectifier38,

shown 2, is utilized to deliver unidi-- v re'ctional-f-current to thealternator field 39 which -i's-'provided ,with 'a garbonr'egulatorresistance do similanin all res ects to that .described.inconnectionfwith Fig.' 1. If de- 9 sired this rectifier may also. operatea suitalilecons'umption circuit 41.

"-What'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,

- L Thecombination of an alternating cursourc'e. a mercurv vapor recifier haw-- pe may be and. amagnetizing winding for saidalterersconnected t iereto, mercury rectifiers having its anodes connected. tothe terminals oi; said source, a load circuit extending from, saidrectifier and connected to a point out I, said source, and meansresponsive to the di rect current in said load circuit for varying '10the alternating voltage impressed across the anodes of said rectifier.

2. The comb nation of an alternating current source, a mercury vaporrectifier supplied with energy therefrom, aload circuit'75 receiving.continuous direct cnrrent from 'said rectifier and connected to a pointon said source, a field winding connected in series with said loadcircuit, and means responsive to the current in the load circuit 8 forvarying the current in said winding.

-3. The combination of acuri'entsource, a mercury vapor rectifier havingits anodes connected thereto, a consumption circuit connected to thecathode of said 'rectifier, a central tap on 'said source connected tosaid consumption circuit, and automatic means operated by current fromsaid rectifier for maintai 1g a substantially constant current-in. idconsumption circuit.

4= .-'lhe combination; of a current source having a central tap, avaporrectifier .hav-

ing anodes each of which is connected to said source and receivespulsating unidirectional current tliereti'oni, a consumption cirl cuitreceiving continuous current from said rectifier vandreturning saidcurrent to said tap, and means controlled by said continuous current forautomatically varying the voltage of said source to maintain saidcontinuous current substantially constant] 5. The. combination of analternator, a transformer receiving current therefrom, a central tap onsaid transformer, a consumption circuit connected to said tap, a mercuryrectifier connected to said transformer and taking current alternatelyfrom the windings on either side of said tap, said rectifier deliveringcontinuousunidirectional current to said consumption circuit, amagnetizing winding for said alternator receiving continuousunidirectional current from said rec tifier, and means for automaticallyvarying the excitation of said' magnetizing winding to maintainsubstantially constant current in the said consumption circuit.

'6. The combination of an alternator, a plurality of'transformers incircuit therewith, each having a central tap, mercuryvapor rectifierseach having anodes connected to one ofsaid transformers and receivingunidirectional current pulsations therefrom, a consumption circuit,receiving unidirec--- tional current from one of saidrectifiers,

nator receiving continuous current fromanother of said rectifiers. 7.The combination of an alternating-current source, a lui'alityof seriestransform- 180 mg anodes connected to said transformers 'SQIIBSconsumption circuits receiving 11111- directional current. from saidrectifiers, andmeans 'operated by unidirectional current from one ofsaid rectifiers for maintaining substantially constant current in allsaid series consumption circuits.

. 8. ,The combination of an alternating current source, a plurality ofmercury vapor rectifiers receiving energy therefrom, a see- I riesconsumption circuit connected to one of said rectlfiers and carrymgcontinuous current, and means operated by current from a I i secondrectifier for maintaining a substan-' .t ia

11y constanticu'rrent in saidconsumption circuit. v

9. The combination of a plurality of series consumption ci cuits,mercury vapor rectifiers for supplying current thereto, a plurality oftransformers connected in series and supplying current to saidrectifiers and a single means operated by direct current from oneof saidconsumption circuits for automatically maintaining substantiallyautomatically maintaining substantially con stantcurrent in all saidcui'isumption circuits.

In. Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this third day ofAugust, 1905.

CHARLES M. GREEN.

WVitnesse's:

JOHN A. McMAN s, 'Jr J OHN' J. TALKER,

